Aerial vessel.



N0. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. L D MERRIGK. AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIOAIION FILED myza. 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q 5 @QQN WITNESSES mw o ATTORNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

L. D. MERRIGK. AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1906. 7 g g gnnm I i I P8 i 14 W/TNESSES aINVENTO/i ATTORNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. L. D. MERRIGK.

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1906.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 5.

"Tia- A'TTOHNEYS No. 856,895. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.,

L. D. MERRIGK. I

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIOATION run my 23. woe.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

W/T ESSES INVENTOH l ZycoziesJ-Merzicjb ATTORNEYS LYCORTES D. MERRIOK,or NEW YORK, Y.

AERIAL VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed ay23, 1906. Serial No. 318,335-

In all 'who'm/ may concern.-

Be it known that-I, Lrooa'rns D. MERRICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhat tan,in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Im rovedAerial "Vessel, of which the following 1s a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in aerial vessels, and one of thepurposes of the invention is to combine in one vessel the aeroplane andballoon systems in such manner that the two. systems will. co-operateand be under the complete control of the operator, and so that the frameof the vessel may be made of exceedingly light material, timber forexample, and yet be safe and strong and capable of all the elasticitynecessary for a vessel of its character.

A further pur ose of the invention is to construct 'a ske eton framewhich bears a striking resemblance to the hull of a vessel,

having a keel and outwardly-extending swelling sides, departing onlyfrom such resemblance inthat the construction of the framework at thebow is nearly duplicated at the stern, and the bow is provided withmeans for supporting the vessel in its flight and the stern is providedwith a small aeroplane acting in conjunction with the rudder 'orsteering a p'aratus, which latter is so constructedt at when making asharp turn, or

when flying in a small circle the'vessel will not cant to any apreciable extent but will maintain practical y an even keel.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide sim 1e, effective andstronglyraced padd e wheels so arranged as to equalize the weight andproduce a uniform motiouwhen in o eration, since all of said wheels aredriven om a single motor having a central location in the keel sectionof the vessel. f a It is also a purpose 'of the invention to so arrangethe said paddle wheels that under all-conditions they will be accessibleto all the available air, said paddle wheels being mountedto operate inhoods havin a maximum air-receiying capacity, whic addl'e wheels operatein conjunction with a jacent and rearwardly positioned sustainingdevices, the air in the hoods being somewhat under compression foragiven length of time.

-A further purpose of the invention is to rovide an arrangement ofsustainers and lioods, which serve as so many balloons to assist inraising and sustaining a vessel while the paddle wheels act directly to.effect its propulsion.

It-is also a purpose of the invention to provide a construction ofrudder that may be utilized as a brake when necessary.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

' Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthisspecifiew tion, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the entire vesselFig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through a portion ofthe frame and one of the paddle wheels and its hood; Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken practically on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 1s an enlargedhorizontal section through the frame of the machine, taken below thesustainers and paddles and practically on the line 6-6 of Flg. 1 Fig. 7is an enlarged vertical section throu h a portion of the frame of thevessel at t e stern, showing the main rudder in side elevation and theauxiliary or brake rudder in section; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectionthrough the vessel, drawn upon an enlarged scale, the said section beingtaken practically on the lines .8-8 in Figs. 1 and 3 Fig. 9 is avertical section taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 1 Fig. 10 isa vertical section taken practically on the line 1010 of Fig. 1.; Fig.11 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal central section throu h a partofan end of the frame, showing t e manner in which the members of theframe are connected; Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section takenpractically on the line 1212 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a longitudinalsection through the weightcarrying block emplo ed in connection with theframe of the machine and located at the bow; Fig. '14 is a diagrammaticview of the frame, illustrating the manner in which the various paddlesmay be driven from the mo-' -tor employed; and Fig. 15 is a diagrammaticview of the bottom portion of the vessel looking upward, andillustrating the various positions of the lower series of aeroplanes.

Preliminary to a detail description of the construction of the improvedair ship, I desire to state generally that the ship is so constructed asto permit the use ofnumerous ling the'vessel. I are distributed in theframe A- of the vessel in I ceases 'Wings of a bird, with thisadyantage, the bird has but two wings of a particular description andthe air ship has been arranged for a number of paddle wheels B, eachhaving three concaved or scoop-shaped blades or beating surfaces 1),whichpress downward upon the air for about one quarter of a revolution,lifting the air ship, and thenpass' backward one-quarter of arevolution, thereby pulling the vessel forward; then the blades 1) passunder segmental hoods B, to prevent backwindage, for nearly'one-half ofa revolution, and finally the blades b emerge from the hood B. andrepeat the work of lifting; and propel- The aforesaid paddle wheels suchmanner as to establish the stability or equilibrium of the vessel, bygrouping the paddle wheels in a maximum number at each end portion ofthe vessel and locating a minivmum number of paddle wheels amidship,

which not only upholds the vessel but by means of the arrangement of thebeating .or paddle wheel blades along the outer side of the vessel,stability athwart-ship is obtained,

In the present construction the paddle Wheels are eight in number, threebeing placed at each side of the upper central portion of the frame A,and one in front and the other at the rear of the said upper centralportion. of the frame. 1

In connection with the paddle wheels B and their hoods B I employsustaining devices C, and each of said devices comprises a more or lessdiamond-shaped hollow body fully open at the front and at the rear, anupper aeroplane 10 and a lower aero lane '11; but in the construction ofthe centra sustaining devices designated as C the aeroplanes areomitted. The sustaining devices C receive and temporarily retain thedistributed whirling and 'eddying air which the side paddle wheelsproduce, while the central sustain.- ing devices C receive andtemporarily retain the air distributed by the end paddle wheels B. Thesustaining devices or sustainersC and C utilize the combined currents ofair by holding or. com ressing the air, between. their members an thesemixed currents of air into a lifting and sustaining power, performingthe same fiinctions with more direct effect than the air or gas bags ofthe average'air ship. It may be here stated, however, that in additiontothe aforesaid sustainersone or more gas bags or envelov s may be aplied to the upper portion 0 the frame 0 the vessel if deemed-desirable.l

The sustaining devices C and C are ar ranged at definite points in theframe A, as has been stated, and wherever practical they are shaft thenext paddle wheel 13, so that they will unfailingly catch and compressthe dial, preferably converting whirling currents of air thrcvm backwardby the motion of the said wheels and rearrange the air into moreor'l'ess straight. and steady currents forfthe. succeeding wheels tograsp and in their'turn throw back into their sustainers. Thesustainersand' paddle wheels will be hereinafter described in detail.

The frame A is constructed of" light matethin yet's'trong strips of woodbeing employed; and in the constructionof the frame the strips overlieone on the other wherever it ,is possible or they; cross each other, theengaging strips beings'ecured together by means of light boltsrirlequivalent fastening means. In general construction the frame may besaid to comprise a lower or keel section a, in which the passengers areac commodated and the operative mechanism is located, and an upper orbodyiseetion a, which is wider than the keel section a, the lattersection extending down from the longitudinal central portion of the bodysection a, together with a bow section a? and a stern section These bowand stern. sections are practically continuations of the central endportions of the body section at the top.

In the detail constr'ucticai of the framing of the vessel and asillustrated, it consists of longitudinal, parallel up er strips 12 and12 located at each side of tfie center, and upper outer side strips 13and 13 parallel with the central strips 12 and 12*, which latter stripsextend some distance forward or rearward of the side strips 13 and 13 asbestshown in Fig. 14.

Parallel and vertically alineing, longitudinal central strips 14 and 14are provided below the upper central strips B and 12, being removed adesired distance'therefroin; and in the further construction of the bodyof the frame, or its upper portion a, lower side strips 15 and,15 areprovided, parallel with and beneath the upper side strips 13 and 13 asbest shown in Fig. 8. Vertical central strips 16 and 15 are secured inany suitable or approved manner to thelongitudi as also shown in Fig. 8,andthe vertical strips 16 and 16 which are at the central portion of thebodysection a, are carried downward and constitute aportion of theframework of the keel section a, but the vertlcal strips 16 and 16 whichare at the forward and aft ends of the frame extend but. a slightdistance, any, below the lower horizontal longitudinal members of theframe' The side strips 13 and 15,13 and-15 are connected by ver ticalstrips-17 an.d,17*-,"as is also best shown in Fig. 8; and at the lowerends of the longer central vertical strips 16 and 16 of the frame,rollers 18 are mounted to turn, whereby the vessel may be readily drawnalong a solid surface. Transverse horizontal strips 19 are located atthe upper portion of the frame, serv ing to tie together and brace theupper porshown in Fig. 8.

tion of the vertical strips 17 and 17 and the upper horizontallongitudinal strips 13 and 13, and correspondinglower transversehorizontal strips 20 are provided, which serve to tie together and bracethe lower portions of the strips 17 and 17*, the lower longitudinalhorizontal strips .1-1 and 14 and the central vertical strips 16 and 16%The upper. transverse strips 10 serve to connect the central standardsor strips 16 and 16" with the longitudinal central strips 12 and 12, asis also shown in Fig. 8. At the forward and rear ends of the said uppersection a of the frame, upper and lower diagonal strips 21 and 21 extendfrom the forward. and rear uprights l6 ahd 16 at the central portion ofthe said section a to the forward and rear uprights]? and 17 at thesideportion of the fratue, as is also best shown in Fig. 14 but which isalso indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. At the upper portion of the-frame crossbars or strips 22 are provided, extending from the central longitudinalstrip 12 to the opposing corresponding strip 12*, meeting the inner endportions ofthe diagonal strips 21 at the said upper portion of the bodyas is clearly shown in Figs, 2"and 14." Thus it will be observed thatthe body portion a of the frame is divided into a series-of skeletoncubical sections 1), and these sections are in three series, two outerseries and a central series as is shown inFigs. 2 and 14, and the saidbody is likewise provided at each side of each end portion withatriarigular skeleton section D and at each extreme end with a skeletonrectangular portion D Diagonal br'aces23 extend down from the, outer orside strips 15 and 15" and the lower transverse tie strips 20 to anengagement with and attachment to side stri s 24 and 25, whichconstitute, in connecti n with the lower portions of the centralstandards 16 and 16", the structure of the keel section a; and aplatform 26 is suitably erected upon cross bars 27, which connect thesaid lower portions of the standards 16 and 16 as is The forward andrear standards 16 and 16 are likewise connected and braced by cross bars28 located above the cross bars 27 constituting the sills for theplatform 26. The lower cross bars 27 are shown as attached to orconnected with the lower'side strips 125, and the upper cross bars 28amshown as connected with the upperside bars orstrips 24 of the said keelsection a. I desire it to be understood, however, that I do not confinemyself to the, details of construction of the frame as set forthexceptin as much-as the various sections D, D and D? are, necessary,. and thata keel section should beprovided in connection with the body section. I

In the arrangement of the paddle wheels B and their hoods B a paddlewheel and its hood are located in each end skeleton cubical cubicalsections D at the side portions of the body of the frame. A paddle wheeland its hood are also located in each central end cubical section D ofthe structure of the body as is shown in Fig. 2, the rcn'iainingskeleton cubical sections being each provided with a sustamer C, as isalso best shown 1n Fig. 2,

but which is also illustrated'in'l ig. 3. The

forward frame section D is supported by braces 29, which extend down tothe keel section a, and similar braces 30 are provided for the rearframe section.

I employ a wedge-shaped aeroplane 31 at the bow of the vcssehwhichperforms the same functions as the sustaincrs C and C, since it catchesand holds the wedge of air beneath it, which air has a tendency to forcethe bow upward. The aeroplane 3.1 is made of fabric, or thin lightmetal, or other suitable pliable material, and is stretched over a ridgestri 32, extending from the central portion of the forward upper crossbar 19 to the next inner corresponding cross bar, as is best shown inFig. 2. The outer edges of the said aeroplane are secured to the bowbraces 29. A second aeroplane 33 is located at the stern of the vessel,serving to stand out at such .point but to a lesser degree than does thebow aeroplane 31, the general effect being that of having the stern ofthe vessel/a trifle lower than the bow, giving the vessel in action asimilar position to that of a screw steam ship when pr ,erly loaded,wherein a certain amount of Gihg is obtained for the screw to act on thewater, andto that end the stern aeroplane 33. is flat. It maythus beobserved that since. the bow points higher than the stem the paddleWheels B may each takehold of a fresh, unused, unbeaten quantity of air.This rear aeroplane 33 is suitably secured to thecentral strips 12 and12 and the rearmost and next inner bar 19.

With reference to the detail construction of the paddles Band theirimmediately asso-, ciate factors, transverse or cross bars 34 are madeto extend from side to side of the up )er section a, of the vessel aboutmidway etween the sections D and I), being secured o the upright orstandard strips withwhic they engage in any suitable or approved manner;and lon 'itudinalbeams or strips'are tween the longitudinal main strips13, 13;

15, 15?, 12, '12 and 14 and 14 as is best shown in Fi s. 1, 3 arid- 8.The transverse strips 34 are ocated about centrally between the uppertransverse main 'strips l? and the lower main strips 20, as is shownbest in Fig. 8. The longitudinal intermediate strips are in sections,namely, a single member 35 intervenes between parallel and spacedmembers 35 as is best shown in Figs. 1 aud t), the spaced members 35occurring wherever a sustainer C or C is ,to be located in a section Dor D of the body.

The hood B for a paddle wheel B is located in the section designed forit, and consists of end arches 36 and one or more intermediate arches37, which extend from one transverse intermediate 'bar 34 to the otheras is best shown in Fig. 4, and a covering37 preferably of a strongfabric is sec'uredto the said arches, to one of the cross bars 34 and tothe members 35 or 35 of the longitudinal intercated at the section inwhich the mediate bars, whichever member may be 10- addle wheel is to beplaced. The hoods are therefore segmental in cross section, and eachhood at its forward'bottom portion is provided with-an opening 38extending practically from end to end as the hood is closed at its ends,through which opening air is freely admitted as the vessel advances. Thepaddle wheel B, as is best shown in Fig. 4, consists of a triangular hub39 which is secured upon a shaft 40, and said shaft 40 is made to turnin bearin s 41 properly secured to the in- .termediate si e stripscrossing the said sections D and D as is best shown in Fig. 9.

. The blades 1) are three in'number, one of the said blades beingprovided for each face of the triangular hub 39, and each. bladeconsists of end members 42, which members extend outward flush wlth oneof the faces of the hub 39, being connected by a bow member 43,

' and a bow 44 connects the end members 42 at points 'near their bowmembers. A body equivalent thereof is secured to the bow portions 43 and44 and to the side members 42,

and also to the hub 10 in any approved manner, so that the said platesare dished orscoop sba'ped, being practically triangularin crosssectionas is shown clearly in Fig. 4. The entire paddle wheel isstrengthened by means of wire ties 46, which pass entirely around thewheel, being twisted around the bow portions of the blades, and the endsof the ties are then suitably connected.

The body portions of the blades 1), of the paddles B, the covering forthe hoods B and the sustainers and C, are made of canvas, rubber, silk,or a combination of dili'erent pliable materials, or of verylight metalssuch as aluminium, since it is necessary that the material employedshall be as light as possi ble consistent with strength.

At the upper and lower central ortions ol" each hodv section D and D in\v iivh a she minor ls located, a longitudinal ridge polo nr strip 47 isfirmly secured to adjacent ma n narrower at such points.

sustainer i's-stretched more or less tightly over the upper and lowerridge poles or strips 47, and the twin rne nbers of the auxiliary or'intermediatfe longitudinal strips on the frame, as is shownparticularly in Figs. 1, 3 andS. The sustainers are therefore diamond-shaped in general cont-our, being fully open at the front and atthe back soas to receive the air forced thereto by an adjacent advancedpaddle wheel, and to direct the air to the next succeeding paddle wheel.

Each sustainer C is made in two sections 481and 48 of equal size,'andeach section is secured in a firm manner to a corresponding member 35"of the said intermediate side strips, of the frame as best' shown inFig. 8', so that air will fully enter the sustainers through theopenings 49 between the frame members 35. i In order that the air mayalso freely enter the sustainers from the sides of the frame sections inwhich they are placed, and

from the top and the bottom, their side edges are inwardly tapered fromthe ridge supports 47 to their point of attachment to the frame members35' as shown in Figs. 11 and 3, being Beneath each 'sustainer C asubstantially fiat horizontal aero plane 50 is secured to the frame, andan u pper aeroplane 51 is likewise prpvided for each sustainer (l, whichlatter aeroplanes extend over thetop of the frame fromoneside to theother the end portions 52 of the extended transverse aeroplanes arecarried down at thesides of the upper sections of; the frame and aresecured to Outriggers 53, forming'a portion of the frame as particularlyshown in Fig. 8. Thus it will be observedthat all the air, from whateversource it may come, en I tering the section in which the sustainer islocated, is directed thereto and utilized thereby.

to the sustainers C, and may or may not have their side portions o en,and the upper aeroplanes are omitted ut lower aeroplanes 54 areprovided. The various sustainers C- and C are in the same horizontalplane witheach other and with the paddle wheelsand their hoods; andempty sections D are provided at the central portions of the body a ofthe frame, which latter sections are more or less covered at the top bythe upper aeroplanes 51 as indicated in Fig. 2. These empty sections inthe frame occur between the sustainers C and promote the-propercirculation of ai r to and from the sustainers and the paddle wheels.The ridge poles47 for the standards C are secured in suitable bearings$35, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and correspond'ng bearings areprovided for the ridge bers of the frame and the fabric bod of a at eachside of the body section a. of the All of the paddle wheels B are drivenfrom one'motor 59, and this motor is located on of the keel section a ofthe frame. :0-

pulley of this motor 59 to a line shaft 62,

the platform 27 at about the central ortion chain belt 60 is showncarried from the driving which is supported in suitable bearings beneaththe body portion a of the frame, as is shown in, Figs. 3 and 8, the beltpassing over a pulley 61 on the said shaft62, and the said shaft 62'isprovided with double grooved pulleys 63, one at each of its ends.- "Thegrooved section of each pulley 63 is connected by belts 65 with pulleys65 on the shafts of the forward side paddle wheels as is shown in-Fig.14, and each shaft 40 of the said paddle wheels is provided with asecond pulley 66, and these extra pulleys 66 are connected by belts 66with pulleys 67 located-onthe shaft 40 of the foremost and centrallylocated paddle wheel. The other grooved sections of the pulleys 63 onthe line shaft 62 are connected by belts 68 with double-grooved pulleys69 secured on the shafts 40 of the intermediate side paddle wheels asalso shown in Fig. 14,- and the other grooved sections of the saldpulleys 69 are connected by belts 70 with-pulleys 71 secured upon theshafts 40 of the rearmost side paddle wheels, and the shaft of each ofthese paddle wheels is provided with an auxiliary pulley 72. The saidauxiliary pulleys 72 are connected by belts 73 with pulleys 74 securedon the shaft of the central rearmost paddle wheel, as is also shown inFig. 14. But I desire it'to be understood that I do not confine myselfto the above described system of driving the paddle wheels, since theline shaft 62 ma be omitted and the driving of said paddlew eels 'ma beeffected by coupling them directly wit the drive shaft of the motor.

It is frequently necessary to balance the vessel, since the force of thewind on one side may be much greater than that on the other. To thatendI provide a balancing mechanism, which consists of a shifting pulley E,

shown in detail in Fig. 13, which comprises a sheath or bod 75, havingchambers at its ends, which ciambers open at the sides of the frame, andin the up er chamber a friction pulley 76 is mounte to revolve and inthe lower chambera corresponding pulley 7-7 is mounted. At the centralportion of the body or sheath of the pulley E, an a erture' 78 isproduced through which a bai 79 is passed, which bail is attached to acounterbalancing" weight 80; A cable 81 isjattached at one end to one.mcmb'er, the right-hand -member for example, of the forw'ardfdiagonalbraces 29, as is shown in Figs. 3. and 6, and

this cable is then. assed over the lower pulle'y 77 in'the blocli orsheath E and thence rearwi'trd; through a guide 82 carried by theleft-hand longitudinal brace beam 28 of the keel section If-of theframe. The cable is then continued rearward and is gassed over a drum83, suitably mounted an I adapted to beyop' erated by hand orotherwise,.an d is then returned forward and again passed through theguide 82 and is carried upward and forward and passed over a guidepulley 84 attached to the upper portion of the lefthand forward'diagonal brace 29 as is also shown in Fig. 6. From this guide pulley 84the cable is carried downwar and rearward and is passed over the upperpulley 76 in the block or sheath E and isagain carried upward andforward, but to the right, and is secured at a oint 85 to theright-handforward terminal brace 29, the last point of attachment 85 beingpreferably opposite the point of, attachment of the aforesaid guidepulley84. In the o eration of this portion of the regulating mec ianisrnfor the vessel, if the drum 83- is turned in one direction the block orsheath E will be carried downward and inward toward the center of thevessel and in direction of one side of the vessel, thus carrying theends of the counterbalancing weight 80 in direction of, that side.Should the counterbalancing weig t 80 be needed at a point farther fromthe center of the vessel to produce a'properequilibrium, or at theopposite side of the: vessel to restore it to equilibrium, .it is simplynecessary to turn the drum 83 in'an op qsite direction, whereupon thesheath E Wil be carried upward and will be moved in directionof theopposite side of the vessel. i

The steering is' accomplished through the medium of two rudders, avertical or erpendicular rudder F and a horizontal ru der F, both ofwhich are particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Both rudders areconstructed with light frames and a cloth or fabriclhody although li htmetal maybe em loyed as a. body, The per )endicular rud er F is securedto a suitable post 86, which is mounted in pro er bearings at the sternof the vessel,

and tie said perpendicular rudder is provided with angular arms 87 ateach side ex-.

tending rearward from the rudder 0st. ;At

the rearwardly-extending pointe orti'ons of the said arms the trunnions89 oft e horizontal rudder F are fulc'rumed, the said horizontal rudderF having a longitudinal central opening 88 therein, so that thehorizontal filVOtflf movement, and the two rudders me e operated by thenavigator of the vesse throu h any wellknown means. The object'of t iisconstruction is to provide a means for moving the horizontal rudder F ina vertical direction to obtain a variable angle with the side faces ofthe perpendicular rudder F without interfering with the action of saidrudder F, rendering, the joint action of the two rudders particularlyeffective when turning the perpendicular rudder to the right or to theleft,

, since the horizontal rudder F may .then be placed at any desired angleto the perpendictermed an additional rudder designated as F but which isin reality a brake rudder.

. to retar denly stop the vessel.

This brake rudderF is located below the platform or bottom 26 of thevessel, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and when not in use is brought'to ahorizontal position'beneath the said platform, and when carriedvertically downward from the latform, or at any desired an le theretowdl proportionately serve d the progress of the vessel should it be too.rapid, or should it ,be desirable to sud- This brake rudder F is madeof any suitable light material stretched over a proper frame. The framehas trunnions which are mounted usually in blocks 90, extending downwardfrom the lower sills of the vessel as best shown in Fig. 7. Eachtrunnion is provided with an attached lever 91, terminatin at its outerend in a pin projection 92 and t ese levers 91 are below spaces 91,between the latform or bottom properof the vessel an the lower sidesills as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Each'lever 91 is provided with a handle93, adapted when the brake lever F is in a vertical or operative ositionshown in Fig. 7, to extend up throng the said spaces 91 so that thehandles may be readily grasped, either one or the other, to lift thebrake rudder when de-- sired, or to change its angle with reference tothe bottom of the 'vesse When, however, the brake rudder F is in itsinactive or upper position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the levers 91 willoccupy a vertical position and the brake rudder a horizontal osition.The said brake rudder may be helilin such position as long as desired bymeans of hooks 94 carried by the frame, which hooks will then engage thepin projections 92, the latter bein in a vertlcal position as shown inFig. 6. t will be understood that but one of these hooks is necessary toaccomplish the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted inthe frame, means for driving the paddle wheels, and susvidcd at itsextreme forward portion wit.

taining devices between the paddle Wheels, which receive, temporarilyhold and rectify the disturbed currents of air and direct them to thefollowing hoods and paddle wheels, as described.

2. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, a series of paddlcwheels mountedin the frame, hoods over the paddle wheels, and sustaining devices whichreceive the currents of air from the paddlewheels, temporarily retainthe air and direct it to other paddle wheels and their hoods, asdescribed.

3. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, paddle wheels mounted to revolvein the frame, stationary hoods for the paddle wheels, and sustainingdevices between the hooded paddle wheels, which sustaining devices serveas receivers and conductors of the currents of air delivered to them bythe paddle wheels,

as described.

4. In aerial vessels, askeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted inthe frame, means for driving the paddle wheels, sustaining deviceslocated between the paddle wheels to receive the air therefrom, whichair is directed to the upper portion of the said retainers, andaeroplanes located above and below the said retainers.

5. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted inthe frame sub-'- stantially diamond-shaped sustainers located betweenthe paddle wheels, receiving air therefrom and compressing said air, theair from the paddle wheels being directed upward within the sustainers,an aeroplane sta tionarily located beneath each sustainer, and elongatedaeroplanes" stationarily located above said sustainers, extending downat their outer sides and spacedtherefrom, as

. described.

6. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted torevolve in said.

frame}, means for revolving said paddle dle Wheels, open at the frontand at the rear,

i which sustainers are made in an upper anda lower section, the opposlngends ofthe sec tions being contracted, spaces intervening between theopposing ends of the sections, and aeroplanes stationarily located aboveand below thesustainers.

7. In aerial vessels,'a skeletdn frame, hooded paddle wheels mounted torevolve in said frame, substantially diamond-shaped sustaincrs locatrdbetween the said paddle wheels and receiving the air therefrom and airdirect from the atmosphere, which sustainers are open at the ront ml atthe .Y'l ar,

aeroplanes locate (1 above and below thc.sus

tainers and at the forward and rear portion,

of the frame, the said framd being also proarched aeroplane and at itsextreme rear pm tion with a fiat aeroplane.

" partments, hooded. paddle wheels and susand open at the front and atthe rear and pro-v the same tamers in alternate engagement. locatedwitlnn the said compartments, the said sustainers being substantiallydiamond-shaped vided with means for admitting air at its side portions,means for driving the addle wheels, a forward arched aeroplane at t eupper forward portion of the frame, a flat aeroplane located at theupper rear portion of the frame, triangular aeroplanes located at theforward and rear portions of the said vessel outside of the line ofpaddle wheels. and sustainers, and flat aeroplanes located one above andthe other below each of the sustainers.

9. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, aseriesof vertically aliningupper and lower hooded paddle wheels, the hoods having forward andbottom openings only, means for rotating the paddle wheels, andsubstantially diamond-shaped sustainingdevices between said hoodedpaddle wheels, which sustaming devices present wedge shaped upper, lowerand side surfaces, said sustaining devices being open atthe front andrear and their front and rear edges being tapered in opposite directionsfrom the top to the central portion of thesides and the bottom to pointsat the sides, all arranged for operation substantially as described.

10. In aerial vessels, a skeleton frame, a se ries of vertically aliningupper and lower hooded paddle wheels, the hoods having forward andbottom openings only, means for rotating the paddle wheels, andsubstantially diamond-shaped sustaining devices between'sa'id hoodedpaddle wheels, which sustaining devices present wedge-shaped upper,lower and side'surfaces, said sustaining devices being open at the frontand rear and their front and rear edges being tapered in oppositedirections from the top to the central portion of the sides and thebottom to the same points at the sides, all arranged for operationsubstantially as described, the said sustaining devices beingconstructed in an upper and a lower section having spaces interveningtheir 0 posing ends, and means for rigidly holding t e sustainingdevices in the \said frame.

11. In aerial vessels, an operating medium consisting of a hood closedexcept at its bot- .tom and forward portions, and a paddle wheel mountedto revolve partially within and partially without the hood, which addlewheel consists of a triangular hub an triangularly-arran ed'scoop shapedblades secured tothe hu 12. In aerial vessels, an operating mediumconsisting of a hood closed except at its bottom and forward portionsand a paddle wheel-mounted to and partially without the hood, comprisinga devices, eachcomprising a revolve partially within shaft, a triangularhub upon the shaft, and blades secured to the corners which blades havesubstantially concave'd under and convexed outer surfaces. as set forth.'13. In aerial vessels, an operating mech anism consisting of a hoodclosed except at its bottom and forward portions, and a paddle Wheelmounted to revolve partially within and partially without the hood,comprising a shaft, a triangular hubupon the shaft, and blades securedat the corners of the hub, which blades are scoop-shaped, having concaved under and convexed outer surfaces, and triangular externalskeleton bracings for the wheel, having attachment to the outerlongitudinal portions of the blades of the Wheel.

14. 'Inaerial vessels, opposing opcrating devices, each comprising ahood and a pad tially diamond-shaped and open at the front and rear, asspecified.

15. In aerial vessels, opposingoperating hood and a pad dle wheelmounted to turn partially within and partially without the hood, asustaining device located between the operating devices, and incommunication with both, which sustaining device is substantiallydiamondshaped, is stationary and is open at the front and at the rear,whereby to present upper and lower side exterior surfaces, the front andrear edges being inclined inwardly and downwardly from their upperportions to a central line, and inclined upwardly and inwardly from thebottom to the said. central line, said sustaining device being alsoprovided with side openings, and means for directing the air from thepaddle wheel with force against the upper section of the sustainingdevice.

16. In aerial vessels, a body frame, a bow and a stern projection fromthe upper portion of said frame, a flat aeroplane carried by the sternprojection and a bowed aeroplane car ried by the bow projection, theconvex'ed surface of the said forward aeroplane being uppermost, for thepurpose described.

17. In aerial vessels, a body frame, a bow and a stern projection fromthe upper portion of the said frame, a fiat aeroplane carried by thestern projection, and asecond aeroplane carried by letter aero lane isdownwardly arched, said how aeroplane being triangular in generalcontour and widest at the rear, the said bow aero lane also having itsfront and rear reac ies inclined from its. center inwardly toits-terminal portions, as specified.

18. In aerial vessels, a frame, a .rudd'er post at the rear of saidframe, a vertically disol' the hubs,

the bow projection, which posed rudder secured to said post, an auxdiiury horizontal rudder slotted to receive the main rudder and pivotanysupporfied thereby, whereby the auxiiiary rudder may turn 1 5 with themain rudder and may be shift-ed to vary lts anguhrnty wlth respect tothe mum rudder, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony where-o1 I have signed my name to this specifirmtieu in thepresence of two subscribing wrtnesses.

LYGOKTES D. MERRICK. Witnesses:

J Furs. Ac KER, JNO. M Rrr'rrm.

